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Zenobia 21' Motor Launch
Zenobia, a third century warrior queen of Palmyra, was legendary not only for her tenacious stand against the Romans but also for her great beauty. It is the latter that is associated with this motor launch.
In the 1980s, Bill Grunwald, a lifelong boat builder with a “love of boats and a gift for wood” and owner of Aeolus (Greek God of Wind) Boat Works, reconstructed the launch from a pattern vessel of unknown year or manufacture. He operated his shop out of Davenport, California, a quaint coastal area and former whaling village fifteen miles north of Santa Cruz .
Fortunately, a 1928 factory reconditioned 4-6 hp, 4 cycle single cylinder engine from Easthope in Vancouver, BC was already in Grunwald's shop for another project, so it was properly incorporated into Zenobia's framing. Although the finished boat with her authentic lines, varnished wood, and lapstrake construction was a thing of beauty, the hand-start one lunger Easthope with its two separate ignition systems outwitted just about everyone who had thoughts of actually running it. Thus the boat remained virtually unused for years as she passed from owner to owner.
In 2001, it was my good fortune to track her down to an airplane hangar near Buck's Lake in the Sierra Nevada mountains whereupon I purchased her and brought her home. After correcting the magneto and battery ignitions and freshening up the cosmetics, the 60 cu. in. putt-putt came to life without so much as a whimper or sputter. Today, not only does she start and run reliably but she provides hours of boating pleasure.
Zenobia is one of the finest one cylinder 21' fantailed motor launches in existence today, and she has her own custom trailer with disc brakes. Photo CD available. $28,500 OBO Note: Don't confuse Zenobia with modern fiberglass interpretations that have funky new hardware and modern power. Zenobia is in a class by herself. No disappointments here!
********************************************************************************** Pink Hour 30' Fantail Motor Launch
This boat was found "quietly returning to nature" in the woods of a Sonora, California estate. Originally steam powered, the 30' ten gauge steel hull built by Millerick Brothers Boat Works was not operational but in excellent condition and showed great potential. Thus an eight year restoration of labor and love began. She was stripped to bare metal, repainted, and refitted with a beautiful, meticulously restored 3 cylinder Easthope gas engine. Original brass hardware and accessories were scrounged from collectors, swap meets, and salvage yards across the country, and what couldn't be found was carefully recast, machined, and fabricated in the correct period style. The result is a spectacular example of a Victorian fantail motor launch which won both People's Choice and Most Elegant Boat at the prestigious lake Tahoe Concours d'Elegance in August 2008. Named for the alpenglow on lake Tahoe's eastern Sierra Nevada mountains, "Pink Hour" is truly a magnificent piece of functional art. She is one of a kind and without equal. Serious inquiries only. 775.825.3269 - Reno NV
********************************************************************************** 22' Fantail Motor/Steam Launch Hull Only Circa 1900 The builder is unknown on this original restorable fantail hull with combing and some hardware. It's very roomy inside with ample seating area and plenty of space for gas or steam power. Most of the wood looks usable, but interested parties should conduct a complete marine survey. An important thing to consider about this hull is that regardless of how much one has to do to restore it, it will always be regarded as an "original boat" when finished. It's currently sitting on a poorly fitted trailer in CT. Asking $8,000. (Sorry we don't have better photos.) |
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